Representing the 17th District of New York

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Lowey Statement on Trump Infrastructure Plan

February 12, 2018

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester), Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s infrastructure initiative:

“The president’s long-overdue plan falls far short of fixing the nation’s crumbling infrastructure and erodes the federal government’s longstanding commitment to our national infrastructure needs. Providing a fraction of needed federal investment, paid for with cuts to other federal programs, and shifting the funding burden to states is not a serious or responsible way to rebuild U.S. infrastructure. Projects of regional and national importance that depend on federal funding, like the Gateway tunnel project, would be put at risk. The president’s proposal doesn’t even mention investments critical to addressing local needs like assistance for Positive Train Control implementation, safe transport of crude oil, and grade crossing improvements. Instead of relying on private sector investment to fill funding gaps—which would ultimately lead to higher fees and taxes on middle-class taxpayers—the Administration should create a dedicated, permanent revenue stream to repair, rebuild, and modernize our infrastructure. Democrats and Republicans agree that we have a unique opportunity to bring our infrastructure into the 21st Century. The president’s patchwork proposal is insufficient to meet that goal.”